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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Joshua 8:23 But they took the king of Ai alive and brought him to Joshua.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/joshua/8-23.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/16/06_Jos_08_23.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Joshua 8:23 - The Conquest of Ai" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="But they took the king of Ai alive and brought him to Joshua." /><script type="application/javascript" 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align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad3.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/joshua/8-22.htm" title="Joshua 8:22">◄</a> Joshua 8:23 <a href="/joshua/8-24.htm" title="Joshua 8:24">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Heb </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/joshua/8.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/joshua/8.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />But they took the king of Ai alive and brought him to Joshua.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/joshua/8.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />Only the king of Ai was taken alive and brought to Joshua.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/joshua/8.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />But the king of Ai they took alive, and brought him near to Joshua.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/joshua/8.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />But they took the king of Ai alive and brought him to Joshua.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/joshua/8.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />And the king of Ai they took alive, and brought him to Joshua.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/joshua/8.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />But the king of Ai they took alive, and brought him to Joshua.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/joshua/8.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />But they captured the king of Ai alive and brought him to Joshua.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/joshua/8.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />But they took alive the king of Ai and brought him to Joshua.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/joshua/8.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />But they took alive the king of Ai and brought him to Joshua.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/joshua/8.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />But they seized the king of Ai alive and brought him to Joshua.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/joshua/8.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />But they took the king of Ai alive and brought him to Joshua.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/joshua/8.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />but they captured the king of Ai alive and brought him to Joshua.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/joshua/8.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />but they captured the king of Ai alive and brought him to Joshua. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/joshua/8.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />And the king of Ai they took alive, and brought him to Joshua.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/joshua/8.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />And the king of Ai they took alive, and brought him to Joshua.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/joshua/8.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />But they captured the king of Ai alive and brought him to Joshua.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/joshua/8.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />except the king of Ai. He was captured and taken to Joshua. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/joshua/8.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />But the king of Ai was taken alive and brought to Joshua.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/joshua/8.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />But they took the king of Ai alive and brought him to Joshua.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/joshua/8.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />But they captured the king of Ai alive and brought him to Joshua. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/joshua/8.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />They captured the king of Ai alive, and brought him to Joshua.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/joshua/8.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />And the king of Ai they took alive, and brought him to Joshua.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/joshua/8.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />They captured the king of Ai alive, and brought him to Joshua. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/joshua/8.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />and they have caught the king of Ai alive, and bring him near to Joshua.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/joshua/8.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> and the king of Ai they caught alive, and bring him near unto Joshua.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/joshua/8.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />And the king of Ai they seized, living, and they will bring him to Joshua.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/joshua/8.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />And they took the king of the city of Hai alive, and brought him to Josue. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/joshua/8.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />Also, they apprehended the king of the city of Ai, alive, and they brought him before Joshua.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/joshua/8.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />except the king, whom they took alive and brought to Joshua.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/joshua/8.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />But the king of Ai was taken alive and brought to Joshua.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/joshua/8.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />And they took the king of Ai alive, and brought him to Joshua.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/joshua/8.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />And they seized the King of Ai alive and they brought him to Yeshua<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/joshua/8.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />And the king of Ai they took alive, and brought him to Joshua.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/joshua/8.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />And they took the king of Gai alive, and brought him to Joshua.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/joshua/8-23.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/p91zXIGB0Rk?start=1955" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/joshua/8.htm">The Conquest of Ai</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">22</span>Meanwhile, those in the ambush came out of the city against them, and the men of Ai were trapped between the Israelite forces on both sides. So Israel struck them down until no survivor or fugitive remained. <span class="reftext">23</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/853.htm" title="853: wə·’eṯ- (Conj-w:: DirObjM) -- Apparent contracted from 'owth in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self.">But</a> <a href="/hebrew/8610.htm" title="8610: tā·p̄ə·śū (V-Qal-Perf-3cp) -- A primitive root; to manipulate, i.e. Seize; chiefly to capture, wield, specifically, to overlay; figuratively, to use unwarrantably.">they took</a> <a href="/hebrew/4428.htm" title="4428: me·leḵ (N-msc) -- King. From malak; a king.">the king</a> <a href="/hebrew/5857.htm" title="5857: hā·‘ay (Art:: N-proper-fs) -- A Canaanite city. Or uaya((Neh. 11:31); or eayath (Isaiah 10:28); for iy; Ai, Aja or Ajath, a place in Palestine.">of Ai</a> <a href="/hebrew/2416.htm" title="2416: ḥāy (Adj-ms) -- Alive, raw, fresh, strong, life. From chayah; alive; hence, raw; fresh, strong; also life, whether literally or figuratively.">alive</a> <a href="/hebrew/7126.htm" title="7126: way·yaq·ri·ḇū (Conj-w:: V-Hifil-ConsecImperf-3mp) -- To come near, approach. A primitive root; to approach for whatever purpose.">and brought</a> <a href="/hebrew/853.htm" title="853: ’ō·ṯōw (DirObjM:: 3ms) -- Apparent contracted from 'owth in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self.">him</a> <a href="/hebrew/413.htm" title="413: ’el- (Prep) -- To, into, towards. ">to</a> <a href="/hebrew/3091.htm" title="3091: yə·hō·wō·šu·a‘ (N-proper-ms) -- Or Yhowshua; from Yhovah and yasha'; Jehovah-saved; Jehoshua, the Jewish leader.">Joshua.</a> </span><span class="reftext">24</span>When Israel had finished killing all the men of Ai who had pursued them into the field and wilderness, and when every last one of them had fallen by the sword, all the Israelites returned to Ai and put it to the sword as well.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/deuteronomy/7-2.htm">Deuteronomy 7:2</a></span><br />and when the LORD your God has delivered them over to you to defeat them, then you must devote them to complete destruction. Make no treaty with them and show them no mercy.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/deuteronomy/20-16.htm">Deuteronomy 20:16-18</a></span><br />However, in the cities of the nations that the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance, you must not leave alive anything that breathes. / For you must devote them to complete destruction—the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites—as the LORD your God has commanded you, / so that they cannot teach you to do all the detestable things they do for their gods, and so cause you to sin against the LORD your God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/joshua/6-21.htm">Joshua 6:21</a></span><br />With the edge of the sword they devoted to destruction everything in the city—man and woman, young and old, oxen, sheep, and donkeys.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/joshua/10-1.htm">Joshua 10:1-2</a></span><br />Now Adoni-zedek king of Jerusalem heard that Joshua had captured Ai and devoted it to destruction—doing to Ai and its king as he had done to Jericho and its king—and that the people of Gibeon had made peace with Israel and were living near them. / So Adoni-zedek and his people were greatly alarmed, because Gibeon was a great city, like one of the royal cities; it was larger than Ai, and all its men were mighty.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_samuel/15-3.htm">1 Samuel 15:3</a></span><br />Now go and attack the Amalekites and devote to destruction all that belongs to them. Do not spare them, but put to death men and women, children and infants, oxen and sheep, camels and donkeys.’”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_samuel/15-8.htm">1 Samuel 15:8-9</a></span><br />He captured Agag king of Amalek alive, but devoted all the others to destruction with the sword. / Saul and his troops spared Agag, along with the best of the sheep and cattle, the fat calves and lambs, and the best of everything else. They were unwilling to devote them to destruction, but they devoted to destruction all that was despised and worthless.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_samuel/12-31.htm">2 Samuel 12:31</a></span><br />David brought out the people who were there and put them to work with saws, iron picks, and axes, and he made them work at the brick kilns. He did the same to all the Ammonite cities. Then David and all his troops returned to Jerusalem.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_kings/9-21.htm">1 Kings 9:21</a></span><br />their descendants who remained in the land, those whom the Israelites were unable to devote to destruction—Solomon conscripted these people to be forced laborers, as they are to this day.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_kings/17-18.htm">2 Kings 17:18</a></span><br />So the LORD was very angry with Israel, and He removed them from His presence. Only the tribe of Judah remained,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_chronicles/20-23.htm">2 Chronicles 20:23</a></span><br />The Ammonites and Moabites rose up against the inhabitants of Mount Seir, devoting them to destruction. And when they had finished off the inhabitants of Seir, they helped to destroy one another.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/21-8.htm">Psalm 21:8-9</a></span><br />Your hand will apprehend all Your enemies; Your right hand will seize those who hate You. / You will place them in a fiery furnace at the time of Your appearing. In His wrath the LORD will engulf them, and the fire will consume them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/34-2.htm">Isaiah 34:2</a></span><br />The LORD is angry with all the nations and furious with all their armies. He will devote them to destruction; He will give them over to slaughter.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/48-42.htm">Jeremiah 48:42</a></span><br />Moab will be destroyed as a nation because he vaunted himself against the LORD.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/5-21.htm">Matthew 5:21-22</a></span><br />You have heard that it was said to the ancients, ‘Do not murder’ and ‘Anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ / But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, ‘Raca,’ will be subject to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be subject to the fire of hell.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/26-52.htm">Matthew 26:52</a></span><br />“Put your sword back in its place,” Jesus said to him. “For all who draw the sword will die by the sword.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">And the king of Ai they took alive, and brought him to Joshua.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/joshua/8-29.htm">Joshua 8:29</a></b></br> And the king of Ai he hanged on a tree until eventide: and as soon as the sun was down, Joshua commanded that they should take his carcase down from the tree, and cast it at the entering of the gate of the city, and raise thereon a great heap of stones, <i>that remaineth</i> unto this day.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/joshua/10-17.htm">Joshua 10:17</a></b></br> And it was told Joshua, saying, The five kings are found hid in a cave at Makkedah.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/1_samuel/15-8.htm">1 Samuel 15:8</a></b></br> And he took Agag the king of the Amalekites alive, and utterly destroyed all the people with the edge of the sword.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/joshua/8-21.htm">Ai</a> <a href="/joshua/6-25.htm">Alive</a> <a href="/joshua/8-21.htm">Captured</a> <a href="/joshua/8-22.htm">Caught</a> <a href="/joshua/8-21.htm">Joshua</a> <a href="/numbers/31-9.htm">Prisoner</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/joshua/8-24.htm">Ai</a> <a href="/joshua/9-15.htm">Alive</a> <a href="/joshua/10-1.htm">Captured</a> <a href="/judges/1-6.htm">Caught</a> <a href="/joshua/8-26.htm">Joshua</a> <a href="/judges/5-12.htm">Prisoner</a><div class="vheading2">Joshua 8</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/joshua/8-1.htm">God encourages Joshua</a></span><br><span class="reftext">3. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/joshua/8-3.htm">The plan whereby Ai was taken</a></span><br><span class="reftext">29. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/joshua/8-29.htm">The king thereof is hanged</a></span><br><span class="reftext">30. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/joshua/8-30.htm">Joshua builds an altar</a></span><br><span class="reftext">32. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/joshua/8-32.htm">writes the law on stones</a></span><br><span class="reftext">33. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/joshua/8-33.htm">and pronounces the blessings and curses</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/joshua/8.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/joshua/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/joshua/8.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>But they took the king of Ai alive</b><br>In the context of ancient warfare, capturing a king alive was a significant achievement. It demonstrated complete dominance over the enemy and allowed for the possibility of using the king for political leverage or as a public display of victory. The city of Ai, located near Bethel, was strategically important, and its defeat was crucial for the Israelites' conquest of Canaan. The capture of the king alive also fulfilled God's command to Joshua to conquer the land and its inhabitants (<a href="/joshua/1-2.htm">Joshua 1:2-6</a>). This act can be seen as a foreshadowing of Christ's ultimate victory over sin and death, where He takes captive the powers of darkness (<a href="/ephesians/4-8.htm">Ephesians 4:8</a>).<p><b>and brought him to Joshua</b><br>Joshua, as the leader of Israel, was responsible for executing God's judgment on the Canaanite cities. Bringing the king to Joshua signifies the submission of Ai to Israel's authority and, by extension, to God's will. This act of bringing the king to Joshua can be compared to the submission of all nations to Christ, the greater Joshua, in the eschatological fulfillment of God's kingdom (<a href="/philippians/2-10.htm">Philippians 2:10-11</a>). The event underscores the importance of leadership and obedience in fulfilling divine mandates, as Joshua was following the specific instructions given by God for the conquest of the land (<a href="/joshua/8.htm">Joshua 8:1-2</a>).<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/j/joshua.htm">Joshua</a></b><br>The leader of the Israelites, successor to Moses, tasked with leading the people into the Promised Land. He is a central figure in the conquest of Canaan.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/k/king_of_ai.htm">King of Ai</a></b><br>The ruler of the city of Ai, which was a Canaanite city. His capture signifies the defeat of Ai and the success of the Israelites' strategy.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/a/ai.htm">Ai</a></b><br>A city in Canaan that the Israelites targeted after their initial defeat. Its eventual capture was part of the broader conquest of the Promised Land.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/i/israelites.htm">Israelites</a></b><br>The people of God, descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, who are in the process of taking possession of the land promised to them by God.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_battle_of_ai.htm">The Battle of Ai</a></b><br>A significant event where the Israelites, under Joshua's leadership, successfully capture the city of Ai after a strategic ambush.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/o/obedience_to_god's_commands.htm">Obedience to God’s Commands</a></b><br>The capture of Ai after the initial failure underscores the importance of following God's instructions precisely. Disobedience leads to defeat, while obedience brings victory.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/g/god's_sovereignty_in_battle.htm">God’s Sovereignty in Battle</a></b><br>The Israelites' victory at Ai demonstrates that success in spiritual battles comes from reliance on God's guidance and power.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/r/repentance_and_restoration.htm">Repentance and Restoration</a></b><br>After the sin of Achan and the initial defeat, the Israelites' repentance leads to restoration and victory, showing the power of turning back to God.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/s/strategic_planning_and_faith.htm">Strategic Planning and Faith</a></b><br>Joshua's strategic ambush at Ai teaches the balance between human planning and divine guidance. Faith does not negate the need for wise action.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/l/leadership_and_accountability.htm">Leadership and Accountability</a></b><br>Joshua's role in leading the Israelites and holding them accountable reflects the importance of godly leadership in achieving God's purposes.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_joshua_8.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Joshua 8</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_did_israelites_defeat_31_kings_quickly.htm">In Joshua 12:1-24, how feasible is it that the Israelites defeated and occupied territories ruled by thirty-one kings so quickly without significant recorded losses?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/where's_the_evidence_of_ai's_destruction.htm">Where is the archaeological evidence supporting the complete destruction of Ai (Joshua 8:28)?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_is_ai's_destruction_just_and_loving.htm">How can the total extermination of Ai's inhabitants (Joshua 8:24-25) be reconciled with a just and loving God?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_is_joshua_8's_ambush_unique.htm">Why does the ambush strategy described in Joshua 8:2-22 differ from other accounts of Israelite conquests?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/joshua/8-23.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">But</span><br /><span class="heb">וְאֶת־</span> <span class="translit">(wə·’eṯ-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_853.htm">Strong's 853: </a> </span><span class="str2">Untranslatable mark of the accusative case</span><br /><br /><span class="word">they took</span><br /><span class="heb">תָּ֣פְשׂוּ</span> <span class="translit">(tā·p̄ə·śū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_8610.htm">Strong's 8610: </a> </span><span class="str2">To manipulate, seize, chiefly to capture, wield, to overlay, to use unwarrantably</span><br /><br /><span class="word">the king</span><br /><span class="heb">מֶ֥לֶךְ</span> <span class="translit">(me·leḵ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4428.htm">Strong's 4428: </a> </span><span class="str2">A king</span><br /><br /><span class="word">of Ai</span><br /><span class="heb">הָעַ֖י</span> <span class="translit">(hā·‘ay)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Noun - proper - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5857.htm">Strong's 5857: </a> </span><span class="str2">Ai -- a Canaanite city</span><br /><br /><span class="word">alive</span><br /><span class="heb">חָ֑י</span> <span class="translit">(ḥāy)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adjective - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2416.htm">Strong's 2416: </a> </span><span class="str2">Alive, raw, fresh, strong, life</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and brought</span><br /><span class="heb">וַיַּקְרִ֥בוּ</span> <span class="translit">(way·yaq·ri·ḇū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7126.htm">Strong's 7126: </a> </span><span class="str2">To come near, approach</span><br /><br /><span class="word">him to</span><br /><span class="heb">אֶל־</span> <span class="translit">(’el-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_413.htm">Strong's 413: </a> </span><span class="str2">Near, with, among, to</span><br /><br /><span class="word">Joshua.</span><br /><span class="heb">יְהוֹשֻֽׁעַ׃</span> <span class="translit">(yə·hō·wō·šu·a‘)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3091.htm">Strong's 3091: </a> </span><span class="str2">Joshua -- 'the LORD is salvation', Moses' successor, also the name of a number of Israelites</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/joshua/8-23.htm">Joshua 8:23 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/joshua/8-23.htm">Joshua 8:23 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/joshua/8-23.htm">Joshua 8:23 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/joshua/8-23.htm">Joshua 8:23 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/joshua/8-23.htm">Joshua 8:23 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/joshua/8-23.htm">Joshua 8:23 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/joshua/8-23.htm">Joshua 8:23 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/joshua/8-23.htm">Joshua 8:23 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/joshua/8-23.htm">Joshua 8:23 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/joshua/8-23.htm">Joshua 8:23 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/joshua/8-23.htm">OT History: Joshua 8:23 They captured the king of Ai alive (Josh. Jos)</a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/joshua/8-22.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Joshua 8:22"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Joshua 8:22" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/joshua/8-24.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Joshua 8:24"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Joshua 8:24" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>